Getty New York Jets defensive lineman Quinnen Williams trying to make a play during an NFL game.
Things almost turned out very differently for the New York Jets in the 2019 NFL draft.
Gang Green selected Quinnen Williams with the No. 3 overall pick in the first round. However former Las Vegas Raiders general manager Mike Mayock revealed that he attempted to trade up to select the former Alabama stud.
“The coaching staff really wanted a defensive lineman and we were picking No. 4 that year in 2019,” Mayock explained on the Green Light Podcast posted on Thursday, April 27. “I knew the first three picks were going to be Kyler Murray [No.] 1, [Nick] Bosa [No.] 2 to San Francisco, and Quinnen Williams [No.] 3 to the Jets. We tried to move up to [No.] 2 and didn’t get him. We tried to move up to [No.] 3 to get Quinnen Williams, but the Jets said no.”
Wow: former #Raiders GM @MikeMayock revealed that he called the #Jets on draft day in 2019 to get the No. 3 pick so they could select Quinnen Williams but NY declined his trade request. 🎥 @greenlight #TakeFlight #RaiderNation @JOEL9ONE
Mayock was unable to make either of those trades and instead selected Clelin Ferrell out of Clemson with the No. 4 overall pick.
Jets Were Open for Trade Business in the 2019 NFL Draft
Then Jets GM Mike Maccagnan admitted at the 2019 NFL combine that the team “had conversations” about trading down in the first round.
NFL Insider Ralph Vacchiano of SNY revealed that the Jets “were determined” to trade down in the first round of that draft “according to multiple NFL sources.”
“They seem to really, really want to move down,” said one NFL executive told Vacchiano via SNY. “Maybe they’re just keeping their options open, but it sure seems like that No. 3 pick is for sale.”
Connor Hughes revealed even more intimate details as we got closer to the draft saying there was “dialogue between Jets and Bills about [a] potential trade.” The belief, according to Hughes, is Buffalo was going to move up for “Quinnen Williams.”
Can confirm, as @RichCimini said, that there has been dialogue between #Jets & #Bills about potential trade. Rare, considering they’re in the same division, but it happened. Deal seems predicated on Murray going No. 1.
Belief is Bills would be moving up for Quinnen Williams
NFL Insider Jason La Canfora said two NFL general managers also told him about the Bills’ interest in Q and conversely the Jets’ interest in trading down in that class.
If top 2 picks go as expected – Murray and Bosa – have now had 2 GMs tell me they believe the Bills could move to 3 to land Quinnen Williams. NYJ have not been shy about their zeal to trade down.
Rich Cimini of ESPN even went as far as to say that “one team [was] already under the impression the Jets [had] a deal worked out with another team if Q [was] available at [No.] 3.”
Sounds like there’s a pretty good chance the #Jets trade down. One team already under the impression the Jets have a deal worked out with another team if Q Williams is available at 3. Keep an eye on Buffalo (9). Jets could get edge rusher or OLM in trade down.
All of these bits of information seem to add credence to Mayock’s claims that he tried trading up with the Jets on draft day to pull off a blockbuster deal.
Despite all that buzz however the Jets stayed at No. 3 and ended up taking Williams themselves.
Quinnen Williams Got off to Slow Start With Jets but Has Turned It Around
When you take a player with the No. 3 overall pick in the first round, people expect big things.
During Q’s rookie season with the Jets, he only finished with 2.5 sacks and only played in 13 games.
NFL Network Analyst Bucky Brooks claimed that Williams had “clearly been a major disappointment for the Jets” on October 28 of 2020. He even suggested that the Jets may have “missed on a flasher with traits and a brief resume.”
Instead, it simply seemed that Williams was a late bloomer. Last season the former first-rounder exploded on the scene with a career season in every major defensive category.
He secured 12 sacks, 28 quarterback hits, 12 tackles for loss, and two forced fumbles. Williams also earned a first-team All-Pro nomination and was invited to the Pro Bowl.
Mayock’s trade story from the past is just a constant reminder of how thin the line is in big-time conversations in NFL front offices. Gang Green seemed hellbent on trading back in the first and if they would have succeeded in those efforts who knows where they would be right now?
Instead, Williams is set to become the highest-paid player in Jets franchise history this offseason after he receives his new extension.